We asked Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Zomato -the India-born food tech giant that now has its presence in 24 countries- about his words of advice for aspiring MENA entrepreneurs. Here's what he had to say:

1. Get your priorities right

“Focus on building a business that solves a real problem. There’s a very apt quote from Warren Buffet: ‘Only when the tide goes out do you discover who’s been swimming naked.’ If you believe you aren’t naked, then you shouldn’t worry about the tide going out.”

2. Listen to yourself

“Value your gut- when your gut feels like something is wrong, think hard about it, and don’t let data take over that decision.”